Virginia Show 21st August 2013

Professor Patrick Wall, more about Associate Professor of Public Health in University College Dublin’s School of Public Health and Population Sciences, and Chairman of Horse sports Ireland launched the 72nd Virginia Show at a reception in the Park Hotel Virginia. He commended the committee on their annual show and their “Can do” attitudes and the need to “rev the thing up for ourselves”. He spoke about Irish agriculture and agri food and the quality needed to differentiate our products and the produce of other countries and that the rising tide can lift all hope. We need to look at confidence, which is key, especially to future farming as a business, which we need to operate on the global stage. We underestimate how much we know about farming. He spoke about the toxic negativity in Ireland at present, so we need to be positive. He also suggested we need to be competitive because of economy of scale on the global market. He spoke about creativity as we undersell Ireland when we take everyday images for granted such as cows on grassland, so we need to market better packages. On co-operation, Professor Wall suggested we need we need to work together, farmers, and processors as Team Ireland. He also spoke about credit and the need to get cash flowing again. He commended the Virginia Agricultural Show as a renowned event with visitors from all over Ireland travelling to Cavan each August. The show promotes all that is good in rural Ireland; it has expanded from its agricultural base, to hold an interest for all family members both rural and urban.

Annual highlights in the cattle section

Wednesday 21st will bring crowds to the Show Arena, where the highlights of the day this year will include the 30th annual Diageo Baileys Champion €10,000 Dairy Cow Competition, Gunne Carnaross Mart All-Ireland €2000, Male/Female Weanling Champion, Liffey Meats €2000 Champion Beef Bullock, and the Glanbia Virginia €700 Friesian In-calf-Heifer. Other highlights include the Lakeland Dairy Champion of the Show, Francie Brady Charolais Champion of the Show, A.W. Ennis Interbreed Champion of the Show, Lisgrey House Restaurant Commercial Champion of the show both the North Eastern Simmental and Charolais Clubs will also hold their Junior Championship Finals at Virginia and the young Stockperson will also continue in each section.

New to this year’s Show

This year of “The Gathering” we are bringing people from UK, Wales, Holland and further a field to join us on Show Day. We have invited many farmers to our hot spot seminar in Virginia College at 10.30 am on “Modern Irish Dairy farming – best practice” “The National experience of pasture based systems” with guest speakers Bertie Troy, Grasstec, talking about “Efficient Farming Infrastructure for modern Irish systems “ , Andrew Cromie, ICBF, talking about “The role of Genetics in the modern dairy cow” , and Joe Patton Teagasc, talking about “Feed and nutrition of dairy cows”. This will be followed by questions and answers session.

In the evening: after a day of observing almost 500 classes and food demonstrations by renowned Chef Neven Maguire and Sheridan’s Cheesemongers, we plan music, craic and food, Carnival style!! to celebrate the Gathering

Beside cattle, we also have the All Ireland Final Art Competition again and Fleetwood Paints are kindly sponsoring this, Supervalu Virginia are also sponsoring the ICA Guild Skills of the Year again and this year it is based on the Seasons of the Year. The Home Industries section has a new Pastry Tray competition sponsored by the Riverfront Bar & Restaurant.

Among the classes are Brood mare, light and coloured horses, ridden hunter and cob, Heavy horses, palomino horses and ponies, Welsh and Connemara as well as the miniature horses and donkeys. We will once again feature a competition for retired racehorses that will be ridden and will compete over jumps. This year we have a new trophy in the Horse section presented by his family, in memory of our recently deceased member Wilkie Lyttle RIP.

Cattle

There are dairy and beef classes for all cattle. These include the usual Holstein Friesians dairy classes and new classes this year for non Friesian dairy breeds. We also have commercial classes, continental, Herefords, Aberdeen Angus, Charalois, Limousin, Salers, Simmentals, Belgian Blues, Blonde D’Aquitaine, and Parthenaise.

Other Classes

There will be classes for Sheep, including the Paddy Keoghan Cup for Pedigrees and the Hugh Faulkner Cup for crossbreds as well as Suffolks, Texels, Charalois, and Vendeen. It is hoped to have a sheepdog trials display. There are also classes for Goats, Poultry, Farm & Garden Produce, Oats Barley, Turf, Hay, Grazing, Maize.
Home Industries, Arts & Crafts

This sections includes classes for Fruit & Flowers, Home industries, Craftwork, Hand writing, short stories, poetry, paintings, photography, confined sections to Active Age Groups and Children. The Dog and pets are not forgotten. The 50th anniversary of the visit of JFK will be remembered when one of our committee presents his memorabilia.

IN TOTAL OVER 470 CLASSES FOR ALL LIVESTOCK, FARM & GARDEN PRODUCE, HOME INDUSTRIES, ARTS & CRAFTS, CHILDREN CLASSES, DOG & PET SHOW

Trade Stands play an integral part of the Show and there is always a waiting list to get space which is limited. There will a “Local Business Centre” alongside the Business Trade Stands.

Sponsors

Without sponsorship, the Show would not take place, so we are very grateful for all donations big and small. We once again appeal to businesses and individual concerns to join us and help fund our Show.
Why don’t you join us this year, enter a class, take a trade Stand, Sponsor a class or bring a group up to Cavan on August 21st and visit the Killarney of the North and join with us in celebration of The Gathering.
ENQUIRIES for Trade stands and exhibitors TO 049-8547197 Mobile Michael 086 3847544